Column

Believe Elizabeth Warren or Believe Sexists

Conservative outlets want us to be skeptical that Warren was fired over her pregnancy. But to doubt her claim is to deny reality.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks at the SEIU Unions for All Summit on October 4, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Of all the dumb smears directed at female political candidates, the idea that Elizabeth Warren fabricated her experience of being fired because of her pregnancy is perhaps the dumbest.

Warren has long told the story of how she was “shown the door” by the principal of the New Jersey school where she taught after her pregnancy became visible, in 1971. Other teachers from that time have come forward to bolster Warren’s story, claiming the district regularly enacted such a leave policy. “The rule was at five months you had to leave when you were pregnant,” said one former employee.

This week, however, Warren’s experience gained new life after conservative outlets came forth with what they believe is a smoking gun: official school board notes listing Warren’s exit as a resignation. (Not to be outdone, Fox News appears fixated on the fact that Warren hasn’t always mentioned the dismissal when talking about her time as a teacher.)

Let’s make this easy: Yes, women were fired for being pregnant in the 1970s. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act didn’t pass…